(1 Thess 4:13-18 and 1 Cor 15:51-54) were talking about rapture.
In these two verses, resurrections are also mentioned. Resurrections of the saints who died prior, and transformation of our earthly bodies for those of us who still live, will happen within the same time during the Rapture.
However, people might ask, since Revelation 20:4-5 mentioned the “first resurrection” right after the resurrection of the saints who have resisted the Beast and the marks of the beast, so how can 1 Thess 4:13-18 be talking about a pre-Trib resurrection/Rapture? It should be talking about the day when Jesus come with cloud and glory at the end of the Tribulation!!
Here is my answer, and after I address this concern, I am also giving you two bonus arguments that suggest a pre-trib ratpure.
*********On “First Resurrection” **************
The “First resurrection” is an event that started from the resurrection of Jesus, and ended with the resurrection of the tribulation saints. See:
> Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of
> those who have fallen asleep. 1 Cor 15:20
Christ was the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Shortly followed by Christ’ resurrection, the old testament saints were also resurrected:
> 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who
> had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves
> after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared
> to many. Matt 27:52-53
And during Tribulation, the 2 witnesses who were mentioned in Rev 11, will have evangelized the world for 1260 days, and will then get killed, and 3.5 days later, they are to be resurrected !!!! (Rev 11: 7,11,12)
But before the Tribulation, some of the Church will have been raptured and receive the crowns in heaven. (Rev 4:4; Rev 5:8-10) And resurrection will happen during the Rapture as well, in twinkling of an eye. (1 Cor 15:52)
So the first resurrection is a succession of resurrections, see:
> 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made
> alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits,
> afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. I Cor. 15:22-23
“first resurrection” is to be concluded at Rev 20: 4-5
//////////////Argument 1//////////////////
The receiving of crowns by the church is to happen before the Trib (rev 4:4; Rev 5:8-10), which officially start at Rev 6, when Christ break the first seal.
And we know we are not supposed to receive our crowns until we see our Chief Sheppard, Jesus Christ! (1 Peter 5:4)
So it makes sense that rapture happen before Rev 6, the breaking of the first seal, so we who are raptured can receive our crowns after we have met our Chief Sheppard at the Rapture.
//////////////Argument 2////////////////////
After the Trib, Jesus is here on earth to stay, and he will not take us *up* to heaven at that time. We will stay on Earth and reign with Christ a thousand years. (Rev 20:4; Zec 14:9,16)
But one of the verses that talked about rapture mentioned that we are to be CAUGHT UP during the rapture (1 Thess 4:17)
If the Rapture happened after the Trib, wouldn’t that mean Jesus is going to take us up to heaven, only to return very shortly after?
However, Jesus promised us that he is preparing a place for us in heaven so he will come back for us and take us there.
It’s like saying Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven so we can stay there for a very, very short while!
After the Trib, Jesus is on Earth to stay for 1000 years and then the rest of eternity, we will not live in heaven, but on the new earth. So how can we possibly use the place that Jesus has been preparing for us in heaven since almost 2000 years ago?
The only possible answer is, we will use that place during the Tribulation.
Sai Kit
Blog.Bible-Verses-Insights.com
— In Christian_survival_last_days@yahoogroups.com, “mudturkle” <johnreno@…> wrote:
>
> Dear Sai Kit,
>
> OK. I’ll make it simple. I’ll give *you* the two references which describe “the rapture”.
>
> The term “the rapture” is taken from the Latin word in the Vulgate translation of 1 Thess 4:13-18, which is translated as “caught up” in the English KJV of the Bible.
>
> 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
> 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
> 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
> 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
> 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
> 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
> 1 Thess 4:13-18 (KJV)
>
> The same event is described in 1 Cor 15:51-54:
>
> 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
> 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
> 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
> 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
> 1 Cor 15:51-54 (KJV)
>
> Do you agree that these Scriptures (1 Thess 4:13-18 and 1 Cor 15:51-54) are a description of the event commonly called “the rapture”?
>
> YBIC,
> John Reno
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